Women's Golf rallies from five shots back to win OAC Championships crown

WEST LAFAYETTE — The Ohio Northern women's golf team rallied from a five shot deficit on the back nine to win the 2026 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships by five strokes on a sunny Sunday.

The Polar Bears received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championships May 19-22 at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, Calif., with the victory.

| OAC Championships Site |

The Basics

• Ohio Northern finished first of eight teams with a 54 hole-total of 330-323-325—978.
• ONU Season Record: 50-25 Overall.
• Otterbein was second five shots back with a 338-317-328—983, Mount Union was third at 328-333-334—996 and Heidelberg was fourth at 336-330-340—1006.
• Venue: River Greens G.C. - West Lafayette, Ohio.

ONU Individuals

• Senior Marisa Alfes (Bellbrook) finished second out of 40 golfers overall with an 82-81-78—241 on the par-72, 5864-yard course.
• Sophomore Mallory Meister (Milan/Edison) tied for fourth with an 85-76-82—243.
• Freshman Addison Williams (Bristolville/Bristol) also tied for fourth with an 82-82-79—243.
• Sophomore Taylor Blackburn (Liberty Township/Lakota West) tied for 13th with an 81-84-86—251.
• Freshman Myra Batra (New Delhi, India/Shiv Nadar School) tied for 30th with an 88-96-93—267.

Notables

• Alfes, Meister and Williams all earned All-OAC Tournament Team honors with their top-5 finishes.
• Northern had several clutch performances down the stretch to seal the victory.
• Blackburn started the strong finish with a birdie on the 451-yard, par-5 18th hole.
• Alfes rebounded with a spectacular par after hitting her tee shot into the water on 18.
• With ONU ahead by three, Meister slammed the door with a stone-cold routine par on the closing hole of the final group to clinch the title.
• The OAC Championships were 54 holes with 18 being played Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• This marks the fourth OAC title, as Ohio Northern also won the 2007, 2021 and 2024 OAC Championships titles.
• Alfes leads the team in scoring this season with an average of 77.9 for 20 rounds.
• Williams is second at 83.9, Meister is third at 84.7 and Blackburn is fourth at 85.5.
• Head coach Chad Bucci is 577-340-2 in his 13th season at the helm of the ONU women's golf team, a winning percentage of .629.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears will return to action at the NCAA III Championships May 19-22 at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, Calif.